Paper roll device with a paper roll detecting function

ABSTRACT

A paper roll device includes a casing, two rollers, a lever, a resilient component, a detecting module and a control module. The two rollers are installed inside the casing and for supporting a paper roll cooperatively. An end of the lever is disposed between the two rollers, and the lever pivots around a shaft. The paper roll sinks to contact the end of the lever, so as to push the end of the lever in a first direction. The resilient component is connected to the lever and for supporting the lever in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The detecting module is for detecting a position state of the other end of the lever, so as to generate a corresponding detecting signal. The control module is electrically connected to the detecting module and for determining a using state of the paper roll according to the detecting signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paper roll device, and more specifically, to a paper roll device capable of notifying an amount of the paper roll actively.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional paper roll device, such as a lottery machine, a receipt machine or an ATM machine, often has a paper roll for sheathing a shaft as a paper feed mechanism. However, a detecting mechanism of detecting an amount of the paper roll is more complicated with the paper feed mechanism without the shaft. For example, in order to ensure whether the paper roll is run out, a cover of the conventional paper roll device is designed to be transparent, so that a user can see through the transparent cover to check the paper roll. In addition, an end portion of the paper roll can be marked, such as painting a red line, and the user knows that the paper roll is run out when the paper marked with the red line is conveyed out of the machine. That is, the conventional paper roll device cannot notify the user that the paper roll is run out early. Therefore, it is an important issue to design a paper roll device capable of notifying the user of the amount of the paper roll actively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide a paper roll device capable of notifying an amount of the paper roll actively, to solve above problems.

According to the disclosure, a paper roll device includes a casing, two rollers, a lever, a resilient component, a detecting module and a control module. The two rollers are installed inside the casing, and for supporting a paper roll cooperatively. The lever is installed inside the casing, and an end of the lever is disposed between the two rollers. The lever pivots around a shaft, and the paper roll sinks to contact the end of the lever, so as to push the end of the lever in a first direction. The resilient component is installed inside the casing and connected to the lever, and the resilient component is for supporting the lever in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The detecting module is installed inside the casing, and the detecting module is for detecting a position state of the other end of the lever, so as to generate a corresponding detecting signal. The control module is installed inside the casing and electrically connected to the detecting module, and the control module is for determining a using state of the paper roll according to the detecting signal generated by the detecting module.

According to the disclosure, the detecting module is a switch unit, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever in the first direction, so as to pivot the lever around the shaft and to activate the switch unit by the other end of the lever, so that the control module determines that the using state is a low amount state according to the detecting signal.

According to the disclosure, the paper roll further includes a notification module electrically connected to the control module, and the control module is further for controlling the notification module to generate an alert message as the control module determines that the using state is the low amount state.

According to the disclosure, the notification module is a sound module, a light-emitting module or a text message module.

According to the disclosure, the paper roll further includes a storage module electrically connected to the control module, the storage module is for storing a set of predetermined detecting values, and the control module is further for comparing the set of predetermined detecting values with the detecting signal to determine the using state of the paper roll.

According to the disclosure, the detecting module comprises a light emitter for emitting a light beam and a light receiver, the light receiver generates the corresponding detecting signal according to a received light quantity of the light beam emitted from the light emitter, and the control module compares the set of predetermined detecting values with the corresponding detecting signal, so as to determine the using state of the paper roll.

According to the disclosure, the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed on two sides of the other end of the lever, the set of predetermined detecting values comprises an alert value, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever in the first direction, so that the lever pivots around the shaft, the other end of the lever shades the light beam, the light receiver sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module, and the control module determines that the using state of the paper roll is a low amount state as the control module determines that the alert value of the set of predetermined detecting values corresponds to the corresponding detecting signal.

According to the disclosure, the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed on the same side of the other end of the lever, the set of predetermined detecting values comprises an alert value, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever in the first direction, so that the lever pivots around the shaft, the other end of the lever reflects the light beam to the light receiver, the light receiver sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module, and the control module determines that the using state of the paper roll is a low amount state as the control module determines that the alert value of the set of predetermined detecting values corresponds to the corresponding detecting signal.

According to the disclosure, the paper roll further includes a notification module electrically connected to the control module, and the control module is further for controlling the notification module to generate a corresponding notification message according to the using state.

According to the disclosure, the shaft is disposed between the end of the lever and the resilient component.

The paper roll device of the present invention is to dispose the lever capable of pivoting, and the paper roll contacts the end of the lever. The paper roll pushes the end of the lever gradually after consumption, so that the other end of the lever moves relatively. The detecting module disposed at the other end of the lever detects movement of the other end of the lever and sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module. The control module determines whether the detecting signal corresponds to the alert value, so as to determine that the using state is the low amount state. Therefore, it solves the problems that the conventional paper roll device cannot actively notify the user that the paper roll is run out or is about to run out.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a paper roll device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams of a paper roll of the paper roll device in different using states according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a detecting module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the detecting module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a paper roll device 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The paper roll device 50 of the present invention can be applied to various automatic paper ejecting devices, such as an ATM machine of a bank, a receipt printer of a convenient store, or a lottery machine of a lottery store. The paper roll device 50 of the present invention has a function for detecting an amount of a paper roll, and the paper roll device 50 includes a casing 52, two rollers 54, a lever 56, a resilient component 58, a detecting module 60 and a control module 62. The two rollers 54 are installed inside the casing 52 and for supporting a paper roll 64 cooperatively. The lever 56 is installed inside the casing 52, and an end of the lever 56 is disposed between the two rollers 54. The lever 56 pivots around a shaft 561, and the shaft 561 is disposed between the end of the lever 56 and the resilient component 58. As the lever 56 pivots around the shaft 561, the end of the lever 56 does not interfere with the two rollers 54. As the paper roll 64 which has not been used is disposed on the two rollers 54, the paper roll 64 can be designed to contact or not contact the lever 56, as shown in FIG.1, and the lever 56 can be designed to be substantially parallel to a horizontal plane.

The resilient component 58 is installed inside the casing 52 and connected to a bottom of the lever 56, and the resilient component 58 is for supporting the lever 56 in a second direction (−X direction) opposite to a first direction (+x direction), so that the lever 56 can be substantially parallel to the horizontal plane. The detecting module 60 is installed inside the casing 52, and the detecting module 60 is for detecting a position state of the other end of the lever 56, so as to generate a corresponding detecting signal. The control module 62 is installed inside the casing 52 and electrically connected to the detecting module 60. The control module 62 is for determining a using state of the paper roll 64 according to the detecting signal generated by the detecting module 60. In this embodiment, the detecting module 60 can be a circuit board, but is not limited to it. For example, the detecting module 60 can also be a chipset.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams of the paper roll 64 of the paper roll device 50 in different using states according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, a diameter D of the paper roll 64 decreases as the paper roll 64 is used and the amount of the paper roll 64 decreases. Therefore, the paper roll 64 between the two rollers 54 sinks to contact the end of the lever 56, so as to push the end of the lever 56 in the first direction (+x direction) accordingly. As the paper roll 64 pushes the end of the lever 56 in the first direction (+x direction), the lever 56 pivots relative to the shaft 561 counterclockwise, so that the other end of the lever 56 moves in the second direction (−X direction). In addition, in this embodiment, the detecting module 60 of the present invention can be a switch unit, so that the detecting signal of the detecting module 60 can be an ON\OFF signal. In this embodiment, it can be designed that an OFF signal is sent to the control module 62 as the switch unit is not activated, and the control module 62 determines that the using state of the paper roll 64 is a normal state according to the OFF signal. As the switch unit is activated, the switch unit sends an ON signal to the control module 62, and the control module 62 determines that the using state of the paper roll 64 is a low amount state or a depleted state according to the ON signal. As shown in FIG.3, the diameter D of the paper roll 64 is less than a predetermined diameter PD, and the paper roll 64 pushes the end of the lever 56 in the first direction (+x direction). Therefore, the lever 56 pivots around the shaft 561, the other end of the lever 56 activates the switch unit, and then the switch unit sends the ON signal to the control module 62, so that the control module 62 determines that the using state is the low amount state according to the detecting signal. The paper roll device 50 can further include a notification module 66 electrically connected to the control module 62, and the control module 62 is further for controlling the notification module 66 to generate an alert message as the control module 62 determines that the using state of the paper roll 64 is the low amount state, so as to notify a user that the paper roll 64 is about to run out. The notification module 66 can be a sound module, a light-emitting module or a text message module. That is, the notification module 66 can notify the user that the paper roll 64 is about to run out by sound, light or text.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the detecting module 60 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the paper roll device 50 of the present invention can further include a storage module 68 electrically connected to the control module 62. The storage module 68 is for storing a set of predetermined detecting values. As shown in FIG. 4, the detecting module 60 can include a light emitter 601 and a light receiver 603. The light emitter 601 is for emitting a light beam, and the light receiver 603 generates a corresponding detecting signal according to a received light quantity of the light beam emitted from the light emitter 601. The control module 62 compares the set of predetermined detecting values with the corresponding detecting signal, so as to determine the using state of the paper roll 64. In this embodiment, the light emitter 601 and the light receiver 603 are disposed on two sides of the other end of the lever 56, and the other end of the lever 56 can shade the light beam, so that the light receiver 603 does not receive the whole light beam from the light emitter 601. Therefore, the light receiver 603 of the detecting module 60 sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module 62. Then, the control module 62 compares the set of predetermined detecting values with the corresponding detecting signal to determine the using state of the paper roll 64. The set of predetermined detecting values can include an alert value AV1, and the control module 62 determines that the using state of the paper roll 64 is the low amount state as the control module 62 determines that the alert value AV1 corresponds to the corresponding detecting signal. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the diameter D of the paper roll 64 decreases as the amount of the paper roll 64 decreases. As the diameter D of the paper roll 64 is less than the predetermined diameter PD, the paper roll 64 pushes the end of the lever 56 in the first direction (+x direction), so that the lever 56 pivots around the shaft 561 and a part of the light beam is shaded by the other end of the lever 56. Therefore, the light receiver 603 of the detecting module 60 sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module 62. Then, the control module 62 determines that the corresponding detecting signal corresponds to the alert value AV, so that the control module 62 determines that the using state of the paper roll 64 is the low amount state.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram of the detecting module 60 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the light emitter 601 and the light receiver 603 are disposed on the same side of the other end of the lever 56. The light emitter 601 is for emitting the light beam to the lever 56, and a part of the light beam is reflected to be received by the light receiver 603. Moreover, the set of predetermined detecting values of the storage module 68 includes another alert value AV2. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the diameter D of the paper roll 64 decreases as the amount of the paper roll 64 decreases. As shown in FIG.3, as the diameter D of the paper roll 64 is less than the predetermined diameter PD, the paper roll 64 pushes the end of the lever 56 in the first direction (+x direction), so as to pivot the lever 56 around the shaft 561 and to reflect a part of the light beam by the other end of the lever 56 to the light receiver 603. Then, the light receiver 603 sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module 62. The control module 62 determines that the using state of the paper roll 64 is the low amount state as the control module 62 determines that the alert value AV2 of the set of predetermined detecting values corresponds to the corresponding detecting signal.

The detecting module 60 of the present invention is not limited to an interruptive sensor in FIG. 4 or a reflective sensor in FIG. 5. Detectors capable of detecting variations of position of the other end of the lever 56 are within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the detecting signal generated by the detectors in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 can be a continuous analog signal which corresponds to variation of the light quantity of the light beam received by the light receiver. That is, the detecting signal corresponds to the continuous variation of position of the lever 56, and the control module 62 can convert the continuous detecting signal into a corresponding digital signal. Then, the control module 62 compares the corresponding digital signal and the set of predetermined detecting values stored in the storage module 68, so as to present a continuous variation of the remaining amount of the paper roll 64 effectively. Furthermore, in these two embodiments, the paper roll device 50 can also include the notification module 66 electrically connected to the control module 62, and the control module 62 controls the notification module 66 to generate the corresponding notification messages to notify the user of the using state of the paper roll 64 according to the using state. For example, the control module 62 can convert the detecting signal into the corresponding digital signal and control the notification module 66 to display a percentage of the remaining amount of the paper roll 64 according to the digital signal, so that the user is able to be aware of the amount of the paper roll 64.

In contrast to the prior art, the paper roll device of the present invention is to dispose the lever capable of pivoting, and the paper roll contacts the end of the lever. The paper roll pushes the end of the lever gradually after consumption, so that the other end of the lever moves relatively. The detecting module disposed at the other end of the lever detects movement of the other end of the lever and sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module. The control module determines whether the detecting signal corresponds to the alert value, so as to determine that the using state is the low amount state. Therefore, it solves the problems that the conventional paper roll device cannot actively notify the user that the paper roll is run out or is about to run out.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper roll device, comprising: a casing; two rollers installed inside the casing, the two rollers being for supporting a paper roll cooperatively; a lever installed inside the casing, an end of the lever being disposed between the two rollers, the lever pivoting around a shaft, the paper roll sinking to contact the end of the lever, so as to push the end of the lever in a first direction; a resilient component installed inside the casing and connected to the lever, the resilient component being for supporting the lever in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a detecting module installed inside the casing, the detecting module being for detecting a position state of the other end of the lever, so as to generate a corresponding detecting signal; and a control module installed inside the casing and electrically connected to the detecting module, the control module being for determining a using state of the paper roll according to the detecting signal generated by the detecting module.
 2. The paper roll device of claim 1, wherein the detecting module is a switch unit, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever in the first direction, so as to pivot the lever around the shaft and to activate the switch unit by the other end of the lever, so that the control module determines that the using state is a low amount state according to the detecting signal.
 3. The paper roll device of claim 2, further comprising a notification module electrically connected to the control module, and the control module being further for controlling the notification module to generate an alert message as the control module determines that the using state is the low amount state.
 4. The paper roll device of claim 3, wherein the notification module is a sound module, a light-emitting module or a text message module.
 5. The paper roll device of claim 1, further comprising a storage module electrically connected to the control module, the storage module being for storing a set of predetermined detecting values, and the control module being further for comparing the set of predetermined detecting values with the detecting signal to determine the using state of the paper roll.
 6. The paper roll device of claim 5, wherein the detecting module comprises a light emitter for emitting a light beam and a light receiver, the light receiver generates the corresponding detecting signal according to a received light quantity of the light beam emitted from the light emitter, and the control module compares the set of predetermined detecting values with the corresponding detecting signal, so as to determine the using state of the paper roll.
 7. The paper roll device of claim 6, wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed on two sides of the other end of the lever, the set of predetermined detecting values comprises an alert value, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever in the first direction, so that the lever pivots around the shaft, the other end of the lever shades the light beam, the light receiver sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module, and the control module determines that the using state of the paper roll is a low amount state as the control module determines that the alert value of the set of predetermined detecting values corresponds to the corresponding detecting signal.
 8. The paper roll device of claim 6, wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed on the same side of the other end of the lever, the set of predetermined detecting values comprises an alert value, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever in the first direction, so that the lever pivots around the shaft, the other end of the lever reflects the light beam to the light receiver, the light receiver sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module, and the control module determines that the using state of the paper roll is a low amount state as the control module determines that the alert value of the set of predetermined detecting values corresponds to the corresponding detecting signal.
 9. The paper roll device of claim 1, further comprising a notification module electrically connected to the control module, and the control module being further for controlling the notification module to generate a corresponding notification message according to the using state.
 10. The paper roll device of claim 1, wherein the shaft is disposed between the end of the lever and the resilient component. 